Ideally, the neck should just drop into the neck-pocket, or be a little snug. Don't force the neck into the pocket. If the body is unfinished, remember that the finish will make the neck pocket smaller with lacquer build up on the edge of the rout. Be sure to compensate for the finish buildup or the neck will be too tight after finishing.

Nice Neck

Ordered the compound radius with rosewood for a strat. project.First one had some factory issues, StewMac took care of it asap!!Nice neck, usual setup adjustments.First try was following site ad suggestion for a 14.75 in. radius at the bridge. I like to set strings low, so I wound up with some fret buzz. Switched to 12 in. radius and guitar is fine. Ordered most of the parts for this build from Stew Mac, all first rate equip.

great all round!

ordered the neck and hoped for the best... it was shipped quickly, but as i am in the UK it took a while to clear customs here.unpacked, fitted to my guitar body and was playing it that evening. plays like butter!i would recommend this to anyone with any guitar that it will fit! no fret dressing, no trussrod adjustment or anything required AT ALL. Superb neck! not played another of my guitars since i have had it!!!

First try with Stewmac neck

Nice product. Not the most interesting grain pattern in the rosewood, but looks great with my very dark green finished strat-style guitar. Straight and true with no high or low frets, and I appreciated the pre-slotted nut. I measured 0.025 at the first fret which I lowered to 0.016 to 0.018 (high e to low e). Only problem at all was a small streak of high paint on the back near the body joint. About 2 minutes work with a scraper and some 3000 sand-paper and it was absolutely perfect!

Now I might sell it, just so I can buy one of the birdseye maple necks and build another strat!